Lalbagh Fort
Lalbagh Fort is a fortified fort in Dhaka, the capital city of the state of Bangladesh. The fort is located on the banks of the Buriganga River, in the northwestern part of the city, being one of its main attractions.
History
The construction of Lalbagh began in 1678 by Shahzadeh Sultan Muhammad Azam, son of Mughal Padishah Aurangzeb. Sultan Muhammad Azam started the construction when he was in the position of Subadar of Bengal. Shaista Khan, uncle of Padishah Aurangzeb, took charge of the construction of the site after he succeeded Muhammad Azam as Subadar. The premature death of his favorite daughter Pari Bibi is believed to have caused the suspension of construction. She was betrothed to Shahzadeh Muhammad Azam.
.Architecture
The fortress is rectangular in shape and covers an area of 1082×800 meters. The building is constructed in the Mughal architectural style. Initially, the fortress was to have three floors, but the construction of the third floor was stopped after the death of Subadar Shaista Khan’s daughter.
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One can get inside the fortress through two gates. One is in the northwest and the other, the main one, is in the southeast. The entire fortress is surrounded by a high wall, with an imposing octagonal bastion at each corner.
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The entrance on the main facade is in the form of four arches in deep semi- octagonal niches. Inside, visitors enter the central hall of the guardhouse. From here there are several passages to underground rooms. The ceiling of the hall is made in the form of a dome, which is decorated with fine decorative plaster carvings.
.Address
Lalbagh Road, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
